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Home My WebLink About31296 / 81-10May 7, 1981 # io �soruriorr PLri�c�E: SuePOHI' IL)CAL 3EGISLE!TORS ON FRISON ISSUE � • �1� : �� Mt iDl : 71• • � • r�i•F �� S, the Nental Health Conmittee of the State Meciical Society is o£ tne opinicn rnat "the proximity o� a prison Fopulation near nentally iIl persons is �dically inadvisable," and wHEi�'.AS, there seems to be several alternatice solutions to the admittedly serious problem of overcrowding in our corrections £acilities, NC7W THEREFOFE BE IT �LUF� that the Oshkosh Coimnn Cowicil goes on record as strongly opposing the conversion of part of Winnebago Mental Health Institute into a prison, as proposed by the wisoonsin Depart�rent of Health and Social, Services. SE IT FURSIiER RESOLVED that the Governor, the Leqislature and the Departr�nt of Health and Social Services are hereby urged to find an alternative solution to the correction facilities overcmading. BE IT FU:2�R i�OLVID that Senator Coyke and Representativ�,s Flintsop, Bradley and Ellis are wnmended for their effort to preserve the integrity of the Winnebago Mental Aealth Institute and are urged to �ntinue their e£forts in this cause. BE IT FU� FiE50LVID that the City Clerk i.s directecl to send copies of }fiic RPSOlution to the GovP.rnor, the Chai.rperson of the appropriate Leqislative C�mittee, the Director of the Department of Aealth and Social Services, Ser:aii�r Goyice, Repxesencaf-ives �iintr:cp, Bradley and Eiiis. SIIBt1ITTFD BY , AF?RO'� �,7 _ - 10 - MADISON OFFICE: Room 28 South State Capitol Madisoq Wisconsin 53702 Telephone (608) 266-3520 :J � J " J ` 1 '' J1 J i ' �l GARY R. GOYKE State Senator 19th District 6 May 1981 To the Members o£ the Oshkosh Common Council: HOME OFFICE: Room 700 404 North Main S[ceet Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54401 Telephone (414) 424-3477 I was truly gratified to learn that the Council would be considering going on record in opposition to the con- version of part of Winnebago Mental Health Institute into a medium security prison. I had originally planned to appear before you Thursday evening, urging your strong support of the resolution to that effect. Unfortunately, state budget deliberations wi11 detain me in the capital. I am, there£ore, availing myself of this means to impress upon you the importance o£ community support £or the difficult struggle under way on behalf of the mentally ill and the future of inental health care in the State of Wisconsin. It is true that Wisconsin, like many other states, is experiencing a severe problem of overcrowding within its prison population. The solution to this problem, however, as has been amply demonstrated by the numerous alternative proposals, can be found without resorting to a medically and humanely inadvisable move, namely the Bayside conversion, which could ultimately destroy a fine mental health institute altogether. Let the Governor, the Department of Health and Social Services and the Legislature know where the City of Oshkosh stands, by supporting the resolution before you. Thank you. S�relY, Gary�/GoyKe �� State Senator GRG:ah 19th District . , At a meeting of the Oshkosh City Council held last evening, May 7, 1981, the enclosed resolution concerning the topical Wisconsin Prisons locations was adopted. We trust this resolution will be of aid to you and the final dicision. Enclosures CCM/prg Ass. David Travis Sen. Kleczka Gov. Lee Dreyfus Ass. Michael Ellis Ass. Gordon R. Bradley Ass. Richard A. Flintrop Donald E. Percy Sen. Gary Go,yke Sincerely, CITY OF OSHKOSH Converse C. Marks, City Clerk � � - STF,'TE OF WISCONSIN) ) l3INNEBAGO CC7liN'�'Y ) �� ) CI7'Y OF OSNKOSii ) I, Converse rlarks, City Clerk of tPie Cit,y of Oshkosh, Winnebago County, 4Jisconsin, do hereby certify th2t I have compared the annexed Resolution with the original instrument now on file in my office, and that the same is a true copy, and a direct transcript of said instrument. Resolution I hereby certify further that said ____ __ _, of which t':12 annexed iS 2. �I"„? 'u�I1C] COY'i2C'E CO^,'�'� [�`35 flriCpf°fi ?';� t11° CO!!::ROri Council of the City of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, at a. Regular meeting thereof held on MaY 7 , 1981 _ IN WITNESS WNF.REQF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Corporation seal of the City of Oshkosh, i-�iisconsin, this 8th dgy May , 19 81 -_(�/ /I/,s�� ( /� � /��,,o City Clerk of the G'rLy of Oshkosh 4linnebago County, tidisconsin . May 7, 1981 ` r # 1 Q �' ��i�'I� (CP.RRiED IAST LAID OVER VTITFIDRAL7I3 } PUF�aSE: SI&POHI' �� ISLATORS ON PRISON IaSL� � • 0U : •• 1 M� 171 �: BI' • �' M I• ' t FII-IEF�:P,S, the Mental Health Comnittee of the State Medical Society is of the opi.nion that "the pmximity of a prison population near mentally ill persons is �dically inadvisable," and Wf�REP.S, there seens to be several alternative solutions to the admittedly serious problem of overcrowding in our corrections facilities, NpW TF�RE SE IT RESOLVED that the Oshlcosh Con[ron Cotmcil goes on reoord as strongly opposing the conversion of part of Winnebago Mental Health Institute into a prison, as proposed by the wis�nsin Departn�nt of Health and Social Services. RE IT F[�R RESOLVED that the Governor, the Legislature and the Departr[rnt of Health and Sociat Services are hereby urged to fi� an alternative solution to the oorrection facilities overcravding• BE IT EU� RESOLVED that Senator Goyke and Representativ�sFlintrop, Bradley and Ellis are cro�ended for their effort to preserve the inY�grity of the Winnebago Mental Health Institute and are urged to continue their efforts in this cause. BE IT FUKCEIER RE50LVE0 that the City Clerk is directed to send oopies o£ rh;c Resolution to the Governor, the Chairperson of the appropriate Legislative Ccmnattee, the Director of the DeparYSnent of Health and Social Services, Senator C�yke, Representatives Flintrop,Bradiey and Ellis. - 10 - � �n.. �;�j � ; f i=., � _ ��f�.��- �'( . �/�.j..w�' LNF: 5114:NH.�S UREYFCS 5TATE OF WISCONSIN OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR STATE C9PITOL MADISON. 53702 June 4, 1981 Mr. Converse C. Marks, City Clerk Oshkosh City Hall - 215 Church Avenue P. O. Box 1130 Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Dear Mr. Marks: Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7863 Madison, WI 53707 Telephunr �umLer (608) 266-IYIP Thank you for writing to express your concern about the conversion of part of the Winnebaqa Mental Health Institute into a medium security correctional facility. As you know, the State Buildinq Commission recently approved this conversion. We are facing a serious over-crowding problem in our correctional system. Because of past miscalculations, which go back to the early 70's and the sale of the Oxford facility, this state does not have adeguate facilities to house its correctional inmates. We are now at a point where the population at Waupun State Prison actually exceeds its emergency capacity. Clearly, there is a need for action which cannot be delayed any longer. The earliest we can do anythinq at all is to arrange some accommodations within current facilities. The next move is to convert an existing facility in order to get more be�3s on line by 1982-83. After considering many alternatives, it was decided that the conversion of the unoccupied buildings at Winnebago is the best, safest and fastest solution. I understand the feelings people have expressed about public safety and the effect on mental health care. I do not believe, however, that there is any reason to doubt that the current high quality of treatment for the mental health patients at �•ainnebago will be impaired or that there should be any fear £or the public safety. t�isconsin has one of the very best records in the nation in this area. W�� ti �V�' � The plain and simple fact of this matter is that Wisconsin faces a critical situation in corrections. Past efforts in the Legislature to site a facility have run into unreasonable roadblocks that left us without a solution. We will have some relief cominq from the new maximum security facility at Portage in 1984, but we still need an earlier solution if we are to protect both inmates and corrections' staff. If other options become apparent, then they will be considered. But, I must emphasize that we need a facility now and significant time has already been spent looking for alternatives. Once again, I appreciate knowing your feelings on this issue. Si erely, .�� Lee Sherman Drey s � GOVERNOR sm 0 � � � v � � U W O v� �-I H J� � S-i O O m F1 �-I aa W � 0 0 � � � O O +-1 d-� N N � ri r-i UI O ri v� bD N N � � N a O 'd ¢ 0 E � O ryi � O £ N m N O Z � m � � � b v � H fi � U ....._..._..__�_.'. _ _ __.-_._.-_---�._--�_ YS Q3iT7!ic '� � - { . � ��... .. .. ..._.�_� n:�.1if�Y...wa I � . . _ __. � _.. � �'^"^'��r��...� c, a . : _ • 1 . � � ) } � " � � :_� � , �� U ti \ �a �1_ ) � � U